School Holidays

Need some ideas for entertaining the kids in the School Holidays? There's lots to see and do and affordable family adventures with our big open spaces and stunning scenery! 

School Holiday events
Check out some top autumn events and ideas below or What's On week by week here.

• School Holiday Programme: Mystery Box Challenge - view mystery box examples on display, collect your entry pack and take part in the challenge from 13 to 28 April 10am-4pm at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History.
• Pūkaha Junior Rangers School Holiday Programme - head into the forest to discover native birds, feed the long-finned eels, identify bugs and trees, track, forage, learn knot tying and lots more each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the school holidays for ages 6-12.  
• Pick your own apples & pears - wander through Molewood Orchard in Greytown and pick your own fresh apples and pears every weekend until early June.
• Martinborough Skyline Mountain Bike Challenge - bike, walk or run on Martinborough hills and farms with courses for all ages and abilities on Sat 20 April.
• Greytown Apple Harvest Festival at Molewood Orchard - apple cakes, toffee apples, pony rides, games and much more in the Molewood Meadows on Sat 27 April.

Dark Sky

• Stargazing with Under The Stars - learn why our region is one of the best places in the world to view the never-ending star filled skies during the school holidays.

Carterton Events Centre

• The Pantoloons Present: Sherlock Holmes - this pantomime takes the intrigue of mystery and wraps it in a playful, family friendly package on Sunday 21 April at 1pm. Get your tickets here now!

Queen Elizabeth Park

• Try out Masterton's state-of-the art skatepark with all the 'bells and whistles' of a traditional skatepark plus much more, that's fun for all ages!
• Visit Queen Elizabeth Park next door and ride on the historic miniature train, around the lake on a pedal boat, have a round of mini golf, feed the ducks, walk over the swing bridge to the BMX track or visit the deer, walk around Queen Elizabeth Park's beautiful trees, and visit the huge playground with its flying fox.

Cycling and Mountain Biking

• Hire an e-bike from Cycling Tom here for your Wairarapa cycling adventure, and enjoy the child friendly cafe in their shop with cool colouring and hot chocolates!
• Located on a section of hillside at the northern edge of Masterton the Lansdowne Mountain Bike Park is free to use with professionally designed and built tracks ideal for beginners through to experienced riders with tracks of grades 2, 3 and 4.
• Try out the purpose-built and professionally designed Rivenrock Mountain Bike Park for all levels of mountain bikers. Open for the summer season from October - April on Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday evenings. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date hours.

Abseiling and Rafting in the Wairarapa

• Check out Wellington Rafting for exciting kids Abseiling and Rafting events in the Waiohine River. Book on their website here. 
  

Waimeha Camping Village at Cape Palliser

• Kids can practice their swing at the Waimeha Camping Village Driving Range with a bucket of 25 balls for only $10, and feed the friendly animals including Gary the goat, Penny the pig, Shaza the sheep and Daisy the cow. Kids under 13 also get 20% off lunch at Cape Palliser Bar and Grill open Thursday to Sunday or by appointment.

Check out more fun activities below and loads more ideas here

• Run wild at the coast, check out Castlepoint and Cape Palliser
• Pop into The Woolshed across the road from Queen Elizabeth Park
• Learn about farm animals on a guided visit at Martinborough Manor
• Check out historic Cobblestones Museum in Greytown
• Explore wildlife at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre
• Be star struck with a Star Safari
• Get out into nature
• Let the kids loose on the Wairarapa coast
• Walk the outdoors
• Feel like a bike ride? 

Take a short trip for a big change of scene! Stay for the holidays

• Book a family room at Copthorne Solway Park with its heated indoor pool, spa, outdoor pool and playground.
• Check out other places to stay in the Wairarapa here.
• If you need local advice or help booking your accommodation, get in contact with our friendly isite Visitor Information Centre team.